Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing!

Just a teaser to loyal followers, I'm on my way to a local Starbucks to pick up a lightly used QHY8 ccd (love living in a big city!). Research indicates that QHY simply used the entire sensor board from the Nikon D40 so it should be a simple matter to convert this to monochrome. Stay tuned for first light tests if the weather forecast holds for tomorrow night (clear but -18 C !!!!).

My thinking, for interested parties instead of sending the entire camera to me and then back, we can substantially save on shipping if I ship you a converted sensor board, give you instructions on installing (simple) and you send me your original sensor. Or for those of you less mechanically inclined we can still do it the traditional way.

With regret I have to announce a halt to my QHY8 monochrome conversion development. QHY does utilize a Nikon sensor platform from the D40/D50 family but while very similar and definitely a Nikon product, it is neither a D40 or D50 sensor board but some strange hybrid. Releasing the board was difficult because QHY decided to cover the PCB surface with a silicone sealant which effectively becomes a glue. I must have been tired as well because I damaged the sensor wires while removing the Bayer layer and now have to contact QHY to see if they have any extras. The idea of just swapping Nikon D40 sensor boards is definitely not feasible.

On a positive note .... I did successfully convert my first Nikon D5100, a great DSLR.

Just some update on the QHY8 project as some people have wondered. I've been a little busy doing Nikon conversions but I have exchanged several emails with Qiu from QHY and he confirms that the QHY8 has several different internal sensor setups over the years. I can retrofit a D40 sensorboard but will need a new heatsink which he was going to send me. I also have to replace FFC connector on the motherboard because I broke it while trying to release the cable as a result of all the silicone sealant QHY sprayed over the PCB to prevent tampering!

Latest development - QHY is sending me a few QHY10 OSC sensors to convert to mono sensing for a potential new product line. I think they want to find some way to use up their large stock of these sensors. I think this is actually better than trying to convert the QHY8 to mono, the QHY10 sensor is better is all respects for this.

Latest development - QHY is sending me a few QHY10 OSC sensors to convert to mono sensing for a potential new product line. I think they want to find some way to use up their large stock of these sensors. I think this is actually better than trying to convert the QHY8 to mono, the QHY10 sensor is better is all respects for this.

the QHY8 and Nikon D40 use the same Sony sensor... the QHY10 Sony sensor is probably the same one in the Nikon D60 (10.2MP) so since Jim has successfully modded all these models of Nikon DSLR the QHY's should be straightforward.

Right, Jim?

and yes if QHY sold mono-fied Sony APS-C sensor cameras that would be great. The rest of the world is stuck with the 8300M and resorting to deep cooling to try to overcome the limitations of this consumer 4/3-DSLR chip.

I believe the microlenses get removed.. which reduces the QE from 60% to 40% (roughly). That still makes them equivalent to some of the lower-tier Kodak mono sensors... with the dark current of Sony sensors. Still a good deal particularly for the price.